“Like infirmaries?” Tiern asked.
Aerity nodded. “Exactly. They will be the only place where Lashed are allowed to work their magic. For now. And only under guardian eyes. Any persons needing Lashed attention can come, unarmed.”
“You’ll want to address the people first,” Harrison suggested.
Aerity had already thought of that. “I’ll need you to round up soldiers to help at the entrance to royal lands as people are allowed in, and then to keep an eye on the crowd as I address them. Tiern,” she said. He raised his chin. “I will need you to visit the local towns with a message. I’m certain the people are in fear after news of their king and queen gone missing. We should probably get going straightaway.”
Tiern gave a nod. After a quiet moment, when Vixie had left to water their horse, he said, “I thought . . .” Then he hesitated.
Oh, seas.Aerity peered down at her dusty boots and waited for it.
“I thought perhaps you would have Paxton with you.”
At the sound of Paxton’s name in his brother’s saddened voice, Aerity wished she had forced him to come. Thinking of him with the madwoman jolted her with stark terror. It took a moment for her insides to right themselves. She took a deep breath and looked at him. So be it.
“I will tell you as much as I can while the horses rest, and then we must be on our way again. But you must remainwith us, Tiern. You cannot go back for him. Vixie needs you. Lochlanach needs you.”
He clenched his jaw and nodded.
Though Tiern was visibly upset at the news of Paxton’s situation, he did not wish to seek him out. Aerity realized with a lightness of heart that his need to protect Vixie seemed to override his need to find his brother. Paxton would have approved.
Aerity and the others were bone weary by the time they crossed into Toresta. Unlike the border between Kalor and Zorfina, the Torestan border was lined with soldiers. Five of the nearest ones held their bowstrings taut with arrows pointed at them. Aerity and the three others raised their hands.
“You might want to lower your weapons from the faces of your neighboring royalty,” Harrison said to the brown-clad soldiers.
“I’ve got this,” Vixie said. She turned to them and removed the scarf from her head. “I have returned,” she said in Torestan. “With my sister, as promised.” She motioned to Aerity.
The men were immediately at attention, shouting orders. Aerity squinted at her sister, and Vixie smiled.
“We came through days ago and explained everything. It took some detailed information to convince them who I was without papers, but once they believed me they swore to escort us back to Lochlanach when we returned.”
Aerity breathed a sigh of relief. “So they know of theKalorian raid on our castle?”
“And the kidnapping, aye.”
“This is good news,” Harrison said.
Two Torestan soldiers approached on horseback and inclined their heads at Aerity. The superior said, “We will escort you to your border. It should take two days and one night.”
“I thank you,” Aerity said. “Any news?”
“None, Your Highness.”
She nodded gravely. “We must get to our castle at once.”
They rode swiftly, stopping to camp and catch a handful of restless hours in the night. Then they were on their way again. The temperature dropped. They were half-frozen when they finally spied the Lochlanach border.
Only three Lochlan soldiers stood guard at the path. Their eyes seemed to bypass the women and go straight to Harrison.
“Lieutenant Gillfin?” one asked.
“Aye, cadet. And your two princesses.”
Their eyes narrowed with confusion and then went huge as they turned to the Lochson girls and recognized them, giving deep bows.
“We would escort you, sir, but we’re on foot,” one of the soldiers said.
“We’ll be fine. Any news of my parents?” Aerity asked. The men shook their heads gravely.Curses.
